History

The York River Symphony Orchestra was
founded in 1984 with the help of the York County School Board. Since then
membership has grown from a small chamber orchestra to that of a
full-instrumentation symphony orchestra. The orchestra is a nonprofit
organization whose purpose is to provide an opportunity for dedicated
avocational musicians to perform on a volunteer basis in a first-class musical
organization, providing high quality, low cost musical entertainment for our
community at large.

The original reason for forming the
orchestra was to give the string students with advanced abilities a challenging
opportunity for playing orchestral repertoire along with other members of the
community. The York County School System provided rehearsal space and
access to a music library at Yorktown Middle School. Newport News Shipbuilding furnished large
equipment and percussion instruments. Founding members Peggy Hadden, Jean Kirkham, Warren
Redhair, Marge Fricke, Marion Bowditch, and Florace Arnold were among those who
supplied the essential
hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

The York River Symphony Orchestra
began under the umbrella of the Yorktown Arts Foundation, from whom they
have received much support. Members of both groups along with Waterman's Museum
volunteered for a fund-raiser that involved providing catered meals for 100
actors and crew during the filming of an historical movie to be shown at the
Yorktown Visitors Center, a venture that afforded the new orchestra a sound
financial footing.

Since the first concert in April,
1984, there have been an array of performances including the
Commissioning of the Battleship Yorktown, concerts in the Hampton Air and Space
Museum, and concerts in a number of different venues and for an assortment of
events. During the past twenty four years, the York River Symphony Orchestra
has had the benefit of the following conductors: Marge Fricke, Jim
Paschall, Jim Allison, Edgar Williams, Ann E. Argodale, Dennis Malfatti,
Jim Herbison, and Eric Reiff.

The York River Symphony Orchestra
has about fifty performing members, a board of directors consisting of
thirteen voting plus ex-officio members, a board of advisors from the
professional community, and countless volunteers who help to produce four
programs, each performed twice, at varying locations in Hampton Roads throughout
the year.